Sand toy



I April 20, 1948; o. FISHER magma sum TOY Filed May 25, 1944 INVENTORQ 0.52211 Elsi? Patented Apr. 20, 1943 Oscar Fisher, Locust Valley, N. Y. Application May 25, 1944, Serial No. 537,362

9-Claims. (01.46 41) 7 This invention relates to mechanicaltoys and more particularly to a gravity operated device of the sand toy typ It is an object of the invention to provide an improved gravity actuated sand toy that will continue in automatic operation as longas sand or other freely flowing granular material is supplied.

Another object is to provide a simple, sturdy construction which may be made from relatively inexpensive and freely available materials such as certain types of plywood, wood, and various types of molded or shaped non-metallic materials.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which may be shipped in knocked down, compact form and then assembled without the use of nails or the like into'a complete operative structure. g

Another object is to provide adevice of the character specified consisting essentially of fiat material and advantageously of 'such material of a'uniform-thicknessdimension. V

Still another object and feature of the inventionresides in-the application to a device of the type described of the method'ofas'sembly which involves securing rectangular strips {of a relatively stifi material into an interlocking and mutually supporting relationship by meansof complementary recesses or slots adjustedas to dimension as to insure close, more or less force fit of edge portions of one strip with the slot portion of the strip to be connected thereto.

-Still another object-is to provide in a device off the character described a novel arrangement of the pivotal support for the reciprocating, bucket-carrying lever arms with respect to the supporting frame of the hopper which insures a low center of gravity for the structure and at the same time permits of the use of relatively extended lever arms, thus assuring that the sand can be discharged into a container or into piles spaced from thesupporting framework and making it easy to tidy-up about the device after it has'been used.

A still further object is to provide in a device of the character described a novel and advantageous supporting structure for the sand hopper and the oscillating lever arms associated therewith.

' A still further object is to provide in a device of this character an improved hopper construction' having at the oppositeends thereof discharge chutes and improved means for controllin flow therefrom. v

' A further object is to provide'in a device of the character described an; improved arrangement and means for operating the buckets and controlling discharge therefrom so as to regulate and limit the momentum ofthe buckets and their associated lever arms'as they approach the limit of their outward movement in the discharging part of their cycle of movement. m 7

- Other objects, features and advantages will appear upon consideration of the following description and of the drawings, in whichi p Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one embodimentof the invention;' Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken n the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with certain details shown in modified form;

Fig. 3 is an exploded-viewer the parts of the hopper proper and the top of the standards;

Fig. 4 is a detail view-of the arrangement for connecting the levers 'l4 in fixed angular relation to one another, and I v Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the pair of levers or the invention with parts broken away.

Referring to thedrawings'f there is a supporting frame includingupri'ghts or standards lil supporting a hopper" I'l providedwith chutes [2 at oppositeends'which alternately supply sand or other-freefiowing granular material such as shot, marbles'," to buckets l3pivota1ly-mounted on pins nd carried bythe lat'erally' spaced arms of two levers M which are pivotally mounted in fixed angular relation-to 'ach other adjacent the base .As illustrated, the levers were provided at their lower ends with aligned openings which receive witha tight fit a shaft 1 5 mounted in openingsin'sid members l5 ofthe base so as to permit angular movemento'f the shaft; 'Asshown more clearly in Fig. L the fixed-angular relation of the lever arms I4 is insured by the locking and spacing member ;l-4 a 'which has its end portions Mb f tted-into inclined slots [4c adjacent the lower ends of the lever arms Hi. *It will be understood that these slots: are s'd inclined as to insure the desiredangularrelation between the two levers; The inteimediateportion idol of the member I40 depends between the inner s ides of the innermost-arms of the'two levers and acts asaspacer. 1 y

Instead of forming the levers 14 of four separate arms andsecuring' them in; fixed angular relation to one'anqthei Q-it willbe understood and the chute'swungdown, will engage the inner surface of'the adjacent end wall 26 and holdv the chute in'position. With the parts in this position, the upper surface of the chute bottom "3! willlbe flush with the bottom of the opening 29 and the inner end ,of the bottom member 3| will be in abutting relation to the end wall 26 beneath the opening 29.

' The chute .bottom 3| is necessarily inclined downwardly at a suitable angle and of course the lower edges of the sides 36 have the same inclination. However, the upper edges of the sides 36 diverge upwardly from the lower edges and are shown as nearly horizontal when the chute is in place. This insures a greater capacity near the outer ends of the chutes and avoids a tendency to overflow, at the same time providing better facilities for mounting thereon a control gate 38 pivoted at V39. To assist further in preventing overflow of the chute, a cover piece 3% may be positioned over the top of the chute. As shown there is mounted in the disthe flow to the gate 38.

For operation thereof each gate is provided with an upwardly extending arm 42 on the upper end of which a member 43 is rigidly mounted by means of cooperative recesses or slots in the two parts. The member 43 at each side of the device has at its outer end a downwardly curved finger 43a adapted to be engaged by the cross piece ll carried by the corresponding arms of elbow levers l4, when these arms are swung toward the hopper in the operation of the device. The impact of cross piece I! on the finger 430. causes the arm 42 to swing inwardly at the same time opening gate 38. At the inside of arm 42, the member 43 is provided with a hammer head extension 432) which strikes the 4 adjacent hopper end 26 to limit the opening of the gate 38 and at the same time vibrate the hopper to loosen sand and facilitate its feeding to the chute.

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the left hand bucket i3. is in position beneath the left hand chute I2 and the gate 38 (not visible in Fi 1) has been opened and the bucket is receiving sand from the hopper. At the right of Figs. 1 and 2, the other bucket i3 is held in tilted position for discharge by means of a flexible connector it attached to the bottom edge of the bucket and to a fastener, such as a screw eye secured in crossbar 20.

As soon as enough sand has collected in the left hand bucket l3 to overbalance the right hand bucket and the parts supporting the same, the left hand bucket will move downwardly by action'of gravity and raise the right hand bucket into position for filling from the right hand chute l2. As the left hand bucket moves away from the hopper, the member 42, being suiflciently weighted by the member 43 carried thereby, swings outwardly thus swinging the gate 38 to closed position. As the left hand bucket l3 approaches its lowermost position, it will be tilted for emptying by means of flexible connector 44 connected to the bottom thereof. These operations will continue automatically as long as sand is supplied to the hopper. Preferably, sand boxes (not shown) are provided at opposite ends of the apparatus to receive the dumped sand. It should be noted that as a loaded bucket 13 approaches the limit of its downward movement, the corresponding flexible connector 44 will be drawn taut and thebucket turned into dumping position. This turning'of the bucket tends to check the velocity of the levers M and the dumping of the sand from the bucket as it is turned further lessens the momentum of the lever and its bucket. The combined effect is toreduce substantially the force of the blow struck by the crossbar I! carried by the arms of the lever Id at the other end of the apparatus against member 43 and through this member. against the adjacent end of the hopper.

, As previously indicated, the device'may be made from a wide variety of materials that are available in strip or sheet form or lend themselves readilyto fabrication into stiff strips, plates or sheets. A material that is particularly suitable for use under present conditions, when metal-s are practically unobtainable for such purposes, is plywood. Plywood has this further to commend it, that it is relatively inexpensive, light, easy to work, relatively strong and capable of being used to form the structural elements without danger of splitting, as would more likely be the case when certain loosely grained woods are used,

It will be understood that various modifications .pair of laterally spaced uprights extending upward from said base and supporting a sand hopper adjacent their upper ends, bracing means extending between said uprights in spaced relation to said supporting base and holding said uprights against lateral displacement with relation to said supporting base, and a pair of angularly related levers each having a length approximating the height of the hopper above said base and mounted for oscillating movement between sand loading and dumping positions about a pivot point disposed in line with said uprights beneath said hopper and closely adjacent said base.

2. In a continuously operable gravity actuated sand toy, a supporting base having portions establishing an extended area of contact with a supporting surface, a hopper supported in elevated relation to and centrally of said base, a pair of angularly related substantially balanced levers each having a length approximating the height of the hopper above said base and pivotally mounted on a pivot positioned adjacent said base for oscillating movement between sand loading positions adjacent said hopper and dumping positions outside the area defined by said supporting base, buckets carried by said levers adjacent the free ends thereof, and means associated with said hopper and actuatable in response to movement of one of said levers to loading position to establish flow of sand from said hopper to the bucket carried thereby and acting automatically to cut off flow of sand from said hopper to said bucket upon movement of said lever away from loading position.

8. In a toy of the class described, a supporting base, a hopper supported in elevated relation to and centrally of said base, discharge chutes on opposite sides of said hopper, pivotally mounted counterweighted gates for controlling flow of sand.

aesapoo from said chutes, the .counterweights being ,at-- tached to said gates abiwelthepivot points. thereof a pair ofan ulariy related levers pivotally mounted one. common pivotadiacent said base for oscillating movement and each carrying .a bucket vad- 4 jacent itsfree end, said leversj heingso relatedto one another andto said chutes that movement of one of said levers ,bringingitsloaded "bucket to dumping position ,will cause the bucket carried by the otherlever lto'be brought to. leading position, and means associated with -.e.a ch .of ,said levers {or acting :uponlthe counterweight .of the vsate correspondinglthereto when said 'lever moves to loading position to @hold said counterweight .to prevent closing movement of vthergate, and releasing said counterweight for automatic closn o s d ga e when thal ver moves the bucket away from loading position.

$1. Inaitoy .of theclass described. an elevated hopper having a discharge chute adjacent one end .lthereoif, .a gate pivotally mounted on .said' 4 ch te o controll e the dischar e of sand therethrough, said gate having an arm extendin upwardly from said pivot and carryinga .counterweight normally urging: said gateltc closed position, said counterweight having an outwardly extendingpqrtion adapted to receive the impactwof a t ppin member and an inwardly ext ndin hamm po tion adapted to transmit impacts t the end o'f said'hopper .when said upwardly exte ding arm is move inwardly in response t impacts appliedto said outwardly .extenglingpprtion.

.5. Ina toy-,oftheclass described, a supporting base havin PQrtions adapted to e ta l sh an e tended area of supportu itha lane surface, a

.,-ll op per supported ,in elevated .relation .to and centrally. ,of ,saidbase, .a ,Tpairlof .angularly -rel ated levers mounted foroscillating movementbetween s d .0 adin g and p mping p sitions about pivot point disposed adjacent said base, said ,levers adiacenttheends thereof opposite to said pivot ;point each carrying .a ,pivotedlbilcket and means controlling flow of sand from said hopper ito said ,buckets when in loading position, flexible meansconnecting saidbuckets With a stationary .ia tfl ai'd structure, said flexible means serving 8 to tiltsaid buckets a 't e app oa h dumpi position, and-meansap in at th bu e a r i ends ofsaid levers and cooperating with said'controllin means w en.sa d'b c etsa o c load- .iu positi nto r t rdthe m veme t 1 s l IZ. T'In aim of the c1ass d c i m ans supporting a hopper in elevated position, ,a pair of angularly related "levers pivotally mounted for oscillation about a central pivot disposedbeneath said hopper, said levers each carrying a bucket and each being adapted to bring its bucket-to sand loading position beneath the hopper at one extreme of its movement and to move its bucket to dumping position ,at'the opposite extreme of its movement, andmeans concomitantly acting .ontboth of said levers to lessen the momentum .of the levers as th y ppr ach th l mi s of t eir oscillatory movements,

B. In.a toy of the class described, means supporting .a hopper in elevated'position, a pairof ,angularly related levers pivotally mounted for oscillation about a ,centralpivot disposed beneath said-hopper, said levers each carrying a bucket end each being adapted to bring its bucket to sand loading position beneath the hopper at one extreme .of .itsmovement and to move its bucket to dumping positionat the opposite extreme of its ,movement, and means acting on each lever and effective aseachlever approaches the limits, respectively, of its movement to dumpin position and to loading position .to apply a. braking action on said lever.

:9. Ina .toyofthe class .describedLmeans supporting. a hopper .in elevated position, a pair of langularly .relatedlevers .pivotally mounted for I oscillation about a central pivotdisposed beneath said hopper, .said levers each carrying a bucket andieach'being adapted to'bring its bucket to sand loading position-beneath the hopper at one extreme of its movement and to move its bucket .to dumping position at the opposite ,extreme of its movement, flexible means connecting said buckets with astationary part of said structure, said flexible means serving to tilt said buckets theyapproach dumpingposition, and means .jaetingadiacent the ends of said levers opposite tohsaid pivot forretarding themove nent of said levers as said buckets approachloading position.

' 'OSCARJFISHER.

REFERENCES CITED "The.follmvihgreiierenees ,are ,of record in the file .of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number, Nam Da 2419, (Fo be -Ma -1 8 V 1.425;.85 'Ke l l s Au '1 1 22 41,35 7 Kehl V :Apr. 1923 122M305 McInt Dec. 10, 1 4 Chamberlain 'July 26, 1887 

